Automatic precision fluid meter



lJuly 7; 1.925.

F. G. N. STIERNSPETZ AUTOKATIG PREcIs1oN-ELUID METER mad .my 12, 1925..

Patented July 7, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

, AUTOMATIC PRECISION FLUID METER.

Application led .Tuly 12, 1923. Serial No. 651,083.

To @ZZ whom if may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANS Gnono Nino- LAUs Srmnnsrn'rz, a subject of theKing of Sweden, residing at Stockholm, Sweden, have invented n-ew anduseful Improvements in Automat-ic Precision Fluid Meters, of which thefollowing is a speciiication.

The present invention has for its object an automatic precision iiuidmeasuring apparatus, of the kind in which two measuring vessels arealternately filled and emptied owing to thefact that one or' the vesselschanges its position through the increase in weight during the lillingand is emptied, simultaneously as the other vessel is broughtinto aposition for filling.

The arrangement according to the present invention is founded on theprinciple that a certain quantity of water is collected as it runs oiiUfrom each of the vessels while they are being alternately iilled, andthat the said quantity of water through its weight operates a mechanismwhich iirst shuts ott' the supply, and then releases the measuringvessels so that they can freely change position before stated.

The invention is characterized by onel or more movably iitted containersoutside the measuring vessels, in such a manner that they can collectthe surplus fluid coming from the vessels. The containers by means ofsuitable devices are connected with a closing arrangement (valves orsimilar cont1" rames), in the supply pipes to 'the measuring vessels,yand also with the measuring vessels so that these vessels can changetheir positions when the containers descend after 'they have been filledwith the surplus iiuid as aforesaid..

The apparatus is ver7 simple, and the quantities of fluid which overflow'from the measuring vessels are included in the measured fluid.

In the annexed drawing a construction according to thel invention isillustrated.

Fig. 1 shows the front of the apparatus, Fig. 2 is the apparatus fromthe front with the cover removed, Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section,Fig. 4 illustrates the apparat-us :trom behind with the cover removed,Fig. 5 is the apparatus from one side with the cover away, Fig. 6illustrates the apparat-us from above with the top part of the coverremoved and Fig. '7 is the release device in a larger scale.

The supply pipe 2 for the fluid is firmly connected to the casing 1 ofthe apparatus. Inside ot' the casing the pipe 2 is divided in twobranches 3 and 4', each leading to one of the measuring vessels 5 and 6.The. vessels are supported by two arms 34, fixed at the pivotpin 36, andare guided by the arm 8 mounted on the pivot-pin 7, whereby one of thevessels is caused to be lowered when the other one is raised, and viceversa. In the raised position each of the vessels is retained by a catch9 or 10. Each catch is made in one piece with an arm 11 and l2respectively, the latter mounted on pins 13 and 14. These pins areiirmly connected to the branch pipes 3 and 4. Then either ot the vessels5 or 6 is raised, 'the corre spending catch will engage a bracket or lo,fixed to the vessel. Fig. 3 illustrates the vessel 5 retained in thismanner by the catch 9, while the vessel 6 has been releasedfrom itscatch 10. The catches 9 and 10 are firmly connected to arms 11 and 12respec tively, which are adapted to rest on shoulders tormed'ondepending arms 1S and pivotally mounted on a pin 19. A spindle Q() isarranged between the catches 1T and 1S and is provided with a crank 21which alternately acts on the catches l? and 18. lVhen the crankcooperates with a catch, this is swung' to one side releasing thecorresponding arin 11 or 12. The corresponding measuring vessel willthen be lowered by its own weight.

Each of the branch-pipes 3 and 4 is provided with a service valve 22 andQ3. Each ot these valves, as shown in F ig. 3, is provided with twodisks 24 and 25, tirn'ily connected to each other (balanced disk-apiston valve may also advantageously be used for this purpose-J andmovable upwards by means ot the valve stems 2G, iitted to pins in thearms 11 and 19. The iiuid passing through one of the service valvesenters that measuring vessel 5 or G, which is raised for being filled.

The two containers 2T and 28 are fixed on the spindle Q0, and collectthe tluid which overiiows from the measuring vessels. Fig. 6 shows howthe measuring vessels 5 and 6 are shaped and containers 27 and 28. Thevessel 5 has an overflow 29 corresponding to the container 27, and thevessel G has an overflow 30 corresponding to the container 28.

situated in relation to the Cil loV

Cn i

On the spindle 20 there are fixed two arms 31, each one having a pin 82which fits in the recess 33 of the pivot arms 34. The latter are movedby the spindle 36, and their ends are inovably connected to themeasuring vessels 5 and 6 in such a way that, when th-e arn are turned,one vessel is lowered in relation to the other. During this movement theshaft or spindle 20l is turned in such a. way that the containers 27, 28are brought from one extreme position to the other, and the surplusfluid collected in one of the containers is emptied into the othervessel.

@n the shaft 36 is lined an arin 38 with a guide 39 which acts onpendulum oscillating on pin 42. rilhe pendulum serves to keep themeasuring' vessels in their extreme outside positions; and at thecommencement o1" the movement of the vessels 5 and 6 the pendulum actsas a brake to prevent a too rapid movement.

`The drain valves and 44 are fitted in the KVbottom of the measuringvessels. rEhe steins oit the valves are provided with yolres 45 and 46respectively connected to the pivotarin 8 in such a manner that, whenthe measuring vessel is raised, its drain valve is closed, and when' themeasuring vessel is lowered its drain valve is opened. 'if he fluidcollected and measured in the vvessel runs out into the .chamber formedby the casing 1 and thence through the discharge opening 47. l'lhemeasuring vessels must not be released until all the fluid in thechamber has been drained off. For this purpose an arm 4S is fixed on thespindle 20, and is provided with a quadrant 49 which Ahas shoulders 5Gand 51 at the ends. These shoulders alternately engage a catch 52 whichis firmly connected to an arm The latter is pivotal'ly mounted on a pin54 and is connected to a rod 55, whichl is operated by a float 'As longas there is any fluid left in the chamber the float will be raised, andin this position the arm 53 is raised, so that the catch 52 is engagedwith the recess 50 or 51, thereby locking the arm 4S and the spindle 20.Thus the arms cannot move, andthe measuring vessels are retained intheir positions. 1

rlhe apparatus acts in the following manner.

lf the parts are in the initial position shown'in Fig. 3, the servicevalve 22 of the vessel 5 is open, and the said measuring vessel will befilled by the lluid passing through the valve. lVhen this operation hasproceeded so far that the fluid overllows at the discharge 29, thesurplus fluid is eollected in the container 27, and, when the saidcontainer has received a certain quam,

tity of fluid, it will descend owing to the `weight of the fluid (Fig.2),. The spindle 2f) is thus turned. The crank 21 of the spindlereleases the catch `18 which in turn die engages the arm 11 causing itto swing downwards. The service valve 22 then is closed and the catch 9is released from the bracket 15. The vessel 5 is lnow free toda scend,unless the catch 52 is engaged with the quadrant 49. rThe empty vessel 5is raised at the saine time and becomes susA pended on the catch 10.rlhe drain valve 44 of the vessel 6 is closed, and the drain valve 43 ofthe vessel 5 is opened. The fluid runs from the vessel 5 into thechamber 1 and out through the discharge opening 47. During the liftingof the vessel 6 a latch 57, pivotally attached to the vessel, acts onanother latch 58 pivotally dtted to the arm 12. Vlhis causes the arm 12to be swung upwards and be suspended on its catch 17.

The parts 57 and 58 arelitted movably in relation to each other, and thepart 58 is provided with a counterweight, in such a manner that, whenthe measuring' vessel 5 or 6 moves upwards, the part 57 comes in contactwith 58, causing the latter to be turned on its pivot, so that the partsremain interloclzed. lVhen the arm 11 or 12 has been engaged with thecatch 18 or 1?, and the vessel 5 or 6 is suspended on the catch 9 or 10,the parts 57 and 58 will become disengaged, and the counterweight onpart 58 turns the latter soV that its projecting part dees notinterfere. with the part 5? when the retaining arm 11 or 12 is released.The movement of the arm 12 also causes the catch 10 to engage thebracket 16 of the vessel 5, which thus is suspended in thev raisedposition. its the arm 12 is moved upwards in the above described mannerit also opens the service `i valve 23 by means of the valve stem 26. Thefluid Vin the pipe 4 thus enters the vessel 6, and when it is filled thefluid overflowsv at 30 into the container 28. The weight of the fluidacting' on the latter causes it to turn, whereby the suspensionarrangements are released, asprcviously stated.

ln Fig. 1, which illustrates the front of the apparatus, acounter` isshown and the said counter is connected mechanically to the arm 4S andits quadrant 49. rthere is also a glass pane through which it ispossible to observe that the measuring vessels always are being properlyfilled, a `necessary condition for getting the apparatus certiu fied bythe Standards oi'iice.

As seen from the description and the drawing, the construction is verycompact on account o-f all the parts being lit-ted closely together. Thebalanced service valves are independent of the pressure ci the inid inthe pipes, and by being submerged they prevvent the fluid from frothing.The capacity corresponds to one filling per about 10v seconds, and thapparatus can be used in a suction pipe as well as a pressure pipe.

Tt is necessary to place the appa atus in a vertical position. For thatreas'in the apparatus may be provided with a suitable plumb device.

Having now particularly described the nature of my invention and themanner of its operation, what l claim is:

l. A fluid measuring apparatus, comprising, in combination, a casingforming a chamber, a pair of vertically movable vessels disposed inopposite relation within said chamber, a fixed `frame within thechamber, means pivoted to said frame and connecting said vessels wherebywhen one is 'ais-ed the other is lowered, means automatically operativeto retain each of the vessels in its raised position, means fordelivering a fluid to said vessels when raised, a pair of auxiliarycontainers mounted for oscillatory movement between said vessels andeach adapted to receive the overflow from one of the vessels, meansoperable by the weight or" fluid in either of said containers to releasethe retaining means of its companion vessel thereby to permit the filledvessel to descend by gravity, means operated during the descent of' saidvessel to swing its overflow container into position to deliver itscontents to the opposite vessel and the other container into position toreceive the overflow from said opposite vessel, each of said vesselshaving a valve-controlled outlet communicating' with the chamber, andmeans operated during the descent of the lilled vessel for unseating itsoutlet valve and delivering` its contents into said chamber.r

2. A fluid measuring anparatus, comprising, in combination, a casingforming a chamber, a pair of vertically movable vessels disposed inopposite relation within saidV chamber, a fixed frame within thechamber, means pivoted to said frame and connecting said vessels wherebywhen one. is raised the other is lowered, means automatically operativeto reta-in each of the vessels in its raised position, means 'fordelivering a fluid lo said vessels when raised, a pair of auiliarycontainers mounted for oscillatory movement between said vessels andeach adapted to receive the overflow from one of the vessels, meansoperable by the weight of fluid in either of said containers to releasethe retaining means of its companion vessel thereby to permit the filledvessel to descend by gravity, means operated during the descent of saidvessel to swing its overow container into position to deliver itscontents to the opposite vessel and the other container into position toreceive the overflow from said opposite vessel, each of said vesselshaving a valve-controlled outlet communicating with the chamber, meansoperated during the descent of the filled vessel for unseating itsoutlet valve and delivering its contents into said chamber, a valveddischarge pipe in communication with said chamber, a float connectedwith the valve ol said discharge pipe, and means controlled by saidfloat for preventing descent of a filled vessel until the discharge pipeis closed.

3. A fluid measuring apparatus, comprising, in combination, a fixedframe, a pair of vertically movable vessels, means pivoted to said frameand vessels whereby when one vessel is raised the other is lowered,means for retaining each of said vessels in its raised position,valve-controlled means for supplying a fluid to said vessels, means foropening the valves of said fluid-supplying means when the vessels are inraised position, a pair of auxiliary containers mounted for oscillatorymovement between said vessels and each adapted to receive the overflowfrom one of said vessels, means operable by the weight of fluid ineither of said containers to release the retaining means of itscompanion vessel and close the valve of its fluid supply thereby topermit the i'illed vessel to descend b y gravity, means automaticallyoperated during the descent otl said vessel for swinging the auxiliarycontainers one into position to discharge its contents into the oppositevessel and the otherinto position to receive the overflow from saidopposite vessel.

d. A lluid measuring apparatus, comprising, in combination, a pair ofvertically movable vessels connected together so that when one is raisedthe other is lowered, .means for retainingl each of said vessels in itsraised position, valve-controlled means for supplying a iuid to saidvessels, means for openingthe valves of said fluid-supplying means whenthe vessels are in raised position, a pair of auxiliary containersmounted for oscillatory movement between said vessels and each adaptedtol receive the overflow from one of said Wessels, means operable by theweight of fluid in either of said containers to release the retainingmeans of its companion vessel and close the valve of its fluid supplythereby to permit the filled vessel to deseend'by gravity, meansautomatically operated during the descent of said vessel for swingingthe auxiliary containers one4 into position to discharge its contentsinto the opposite vessel and the other into position to receive theoverflow from said opposite vessel, each of said vessels having avalve-controlled outlet port, and means operated during the upward anddownward movements of said vessel for respectively closing and openingthe valve ot' said port.

5. A fluid measuring apparatus, comprising, in combination, a iixedframe, a. pair of vertically movable vessels, means pivoted to saidframe and vessels whereby when one vessel is raised the other islowered, means for retaining each of said vessels in its raisedposition, valve-controlled means for supplylll) all

ing a fluid to said vessels, means for opening` the valves of saidfluid-supplying means when the vessels are in raised position, a pair ofauxiliary containers mounted for oscillatory movement between saidvessels and eachy adapted to receive the overflow from one of saidvessels, means operable by the weight of fluid in either of saidcontainers to release the retaining means of its companion vessel andclose the valve of its fluid supply thereby to permit the filled vesselto descend by gravity, means automatically operated during the descentof said vessel for swinging the auxiliary containers one into positionto discharge its contents into the opposite vessel and the other intoposition to receive the overflow from said opposite vessel and means forbraking the descent of the vessels.

6. A fluid measuring apparatus, -comprising, in combination, a fixedframe, a pair of vertically movable vessels means pivoted to said frameand vessels whereby when one vessel is raised the other is lowered,means for retaining each of said vessels in its raised position,valve-controlled means for suppl fing a fluid to said vessels, means foropening the valves of said fluid-supplying means when the vessels are inraised position, a pair of auxiliary containers mounted for oscillatorymovement between said vessels and each adapted to receive the overflowfrom one of said vessels, means: operable by the weight of fluid ineither of said containers to release the retaining means of itscompanion vessel and close the valve of its fluid supply thereby topermit the filled vessel to descend by gravity, means automaticallyoperated during the descent of said vessel for swinging the auxiliarycontainers one into position to discharge its contents into the oppositevessel and the other into position to receive'the overflow from saidlopposite vessel, a swingable, weighted counterbalancing member pivotedon said frame, and means operated by the downward movement of thevessels to swing saidrmember on` its pivot whereby the weight of saidmember resists said downward' movement. i

7. A fluid measuring apparatus, compris ing, in combination, a casingforming a chamber, a pair of vertically movable vessels disposed inoppositev relation within said chamber, a fixed frame withinv thechamber,

" means pivoted to said frame and connecting said vessels whereby whenVone is raised the other is lowered, a shaft mounted for rocking motionbetween said vessels, a pivotally mounted latch foreach of said vesselsadapted to retain the vessel in its raised position, means fordelivering a liquid to the raised vessel, means controlled by therocking of said shaft for releasing said latches,

a. pair of auxiliary containers secured to said shaft and each adaptedto receive the overflow from one of saidy vessels, said containers beingadapted to rock said shaft under the weight of liquid in the containerthereby to release the retaining latch of the 'corresponding vessel andpermit the filled vessel lto descend by gravity, means operated by thedescending vessel to rock the shaft'in the opposite `direction therebyto carry the liquid-containing auxiliary contain'erfinto position todischarge its contents into the ered, a rock shaft mounted within saidcasing in parallelism with the pivot of said arm, an arm extendinglaterally from said first arm and forming therewith a bellcrank, a crankarm carried by said shaft inengagement with said lateral arm,valvecontrolle'd means for delivering a liquid to said vessels whenraised, a pivoted latch for retaining each of the vessels in itsV raisedposition, a pair of depending arms each having a shoulder adapted toengage one of said latches and hold it in operative engage-ment withsaid vessel, an arm carried by said shaft and adapted to' engage eitherof said depending arms and swing it out of `latch-engaging position, apair of auxiliary containers secured to said shaft and adapted to'fbeswung into position to Areceive the overflow from said vesselsrespectively, each of said containers being adapted to rock said shaftas Ythe weight of liquid in the containerl increases thereby to releaseone of said latch-retaining arms and permit a filled vessel to descendby gravity, said shaft being rocked in the opposite direction during thedescent of said vessel thereby to carry the liquid-containing auxiliarycontainer into position to deliver its contents into the empty vesseland the other container into position to receive the overflow from saidvessel, and means operated by the release of saidlatches for closing theliquid supply'valve.

9. A fluid measuring apparatus, comprising, in combination, achamberaforming casing, an armv pivotally supported intermediate itsends in said casing, a measuring Vvessel suspended at' each endof saidarm whereby when one vessel is raised the other is lowered, a reclzsha-ft mounted withinsaid ,f casingin parallelism withl the pivot ofsaid arm,an arm extending laterally from said first arm andforming-therewith a bellcranl, a crank arm carried by said shaft inengagement with said lateral arm, valve-controlled dit' lill) diate itsends in said casing,

means for delivering a liquid to said when raised, a pivoted latch forretaining each of the vessels in its raised position, a pair ofdepending arms each having a shoulder atlanted to engage one of saidlatches and hold it in operative engagement with said vessel, an armcarried by said shaft and adapted to engage either of said dependinearms and swing it out of latch-engaging position, a pair of auxiliarycontainers secured to said shaft and adapted to be swung into posit-ionto receive the overflow from said vessels respectively, each of saidcontainers being adapte-o` to roch said shaft as the weight of, .liquidin the container inH creases thereby to release one of saidlatchretaining arms and permit a filled vessel to descend by gravity,said shaft being rocked in the opposite direction durin lr the descentof said vessel thereby to carry the liquid-containing auxiliarycontainer into position to deliver its'contents into the empty vesseland the other container into position to receive the overflow from saidvessel, means operated by the release of said latches for closing theliquid supply valve each of said vessels having a valve-controlledoutlet port, and means operated during the descent of the vessel foropening its outlet valve thereby to discharge, its contents into saidchamber.

l0. A fluid measuring apparatus, comprising, in combination, achambenforming casing, an arm pivotally supported intermea measuringvessel suspended at each end of said arm whereby when one vessel israised the other is lowered, a rock shaft n'ioiinted within said casingin parallelism with the pivot of said arm, an arm extending laterallyfrom said lirst arm and forming therewith a bellcrani, a crank armcarried by said shaft in engagement with said lateral arm,valve-controlled means for delivering a liquid to said vessels whenraised, a pivoted latch for retaining each of the vessels in its raisedposition, a pair of depending arms each having a shoulder adapted toengage one of said latches and hold it in operative engagement with saidvesse-l, an arm carried by said shaft and adapted to engage either ofsaid depending arms and swingit out of latch-engaging position, a pairof auxiliary containers secured to said shaft and adapted to be swunginto position to receive the overiiow from said vessels respectively,each of said containers being adapted to roch said shaft as the weightof liquid in the container increases thereby to release one of saidlatch-retaining arms and permit a iilled vessel to descend by gravity,said shaft being rocked in the opposite direction during the descent ofsaid vessel thereby to carry the liquid-containing auxiliary containerinto position to deliver its contents into the empty vessel and vesselsthe other czzntainer into position to receive the overtloiv from saidvessel, means operated by the `release of aid latches for closm ing theliquid supply valve each of said vessels having valve-controlled outletport, means operated during the descent of the vessel fer opening itsoutlet valve thereby to discharge its contents' into said chainber avalve-controlled discharge pipe communicating` with said chamber, and afloat connected with said valve a d adapted to iin the same open untilall the liquid is discharged from said chamber.

ll. A iinid measuring apparatus, coniprising, in combination, achamber-forming casing, an armpivotally supported intermediate its endsin said casing, a measuring vessel suspended at each end of said arinwhereby when one vessel is raised the other is lowered, a roch shaftmounted within said casing in parallelism with the pivot of said arm, anarm extendinglaterally from said first arm and forming therewith abellcranli, a crank arm carried by said shaft a engagement with saidlateral arm, valvecontrolled means for delivering a liquid to saidvessels when raised, a pivoted latch for retaining each of the vesselsin its raised position, Aa pair of depending arms each having a shoulderadapte-d to engage one of said latches and hold it in operativeengagement with said vessel, an arm carried by said shaft and adapted toengage either of said depending arms and swing it out of latch-engaging'position, a pair of auxiliary containers secured to said shaft andadapted to be swung into position to receive the overflow from saidvessels respectively, each of said containers being adapted to rock saidshaft as the weight of liquid in the container increases thereby torelease one of said latch-retaining arms and permit a iilled vessel todescend by gravity, said shaft being rocked in the opposite directionduring the descent of said vessel thereby to carry the liquid-containingauxiliary container into position to deliver its contents into the emptyvessel and the other container into position to receive the overflowfrom said vessel, means operated by the release of said latches forclosing the liquid supply valve each of said vessels having avalve-controlled outlet port, means operated during the descent of thevessel for opening its outlet valve thereby to discharge its contentsinto said chamber a valve-controlled discharge pipe communicating' withsaid chamber, a float connected with said valve, and means operated bysaid float to prevent descent of a filled vessel until all the liquid isdischarged from said chamber.

12. A fluid measuring apparatus, comprising, in combination, aehamber-forming casing, an arm pivotally supported intermediate its endsin said casing, a measuring vessel suspended at each end of said armwhereby when one vessel 1s raised the other is lowered, -a rock shaftmounted Within said casing in parallelism with the pivotof said arm, anarm extending laterally from said lirst arm and forming` therewith abellcrank, a crank arm carried by said shaft in engagement with saidlateral arm, valvecontrolled means for delivering a liquid to saidvesselsxvhen raised, a pivoted latch for retaining each of the vesselsin its raised p'osition, a pair of depending arms each having a shoulderadapted Vto engage one of said latches andhold itin operative engagementwith saidV vessel, an Varm carried 'by said shaft andadapted to engageeither of said depending arms and swing it out of latch-engagingposition, a pair of auxiliary containers secured to said shaft andadapt- Ved to be swung into position to receive the overdow from saidvessels respectively, each of said containers being adapted to rock saidshaft as the Weight of rliquid in the con# tainer increases thereby torelease one of said latch-retaining arms and permit aY-filled secured tosaid connected to saidfloat and having a latch vessel to descend bygravity, said shaft being yrocked in the Vopposite direction during,`the descent or" said vessel thereby to carry the 'liquid-containingauxiliary container into position to deliver its contentsinto the emptyvessel `andthe other container into position to receive the overflowfrom said vessel, means operated by the release of said latches forclosing the liquid supply valve cachot; said vessels having avalve-controlled outlet port, means operated during the descent of thevessel for opening its outlet valve thereby to discharge its contentsinto said chamber a valve-controlled discharge pipe 'communicating Withsaid chamber, a oat connecting with said, valve, a quadrant shaft, and apivoted' lever for*engaging` said quadrant thereby to hold the shaftagainst rocking motion-and pre vent descent ot a filled vessel until allthe liquid is discharged from thechaiiber.V

In testimony whereof l have signed my name to this specification.l p

' FRANS GEORG NIKOLAUSSTEERNSEE'Z.

